

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-EMERGENCYNET NEWS SVC.-07/28/92-1000CDT

NEW STRAINS OF AIDS FOUND, PREVIOUSLY UNDETECTED

By: Clark Staten, EMT-P

Chicago, Il - During the past two weeks, scientists in both
France and the United States say that they have discovered at
least two other strains of Acquired Immune Deficiency (AIDS)
that do not register as HIV-1 or HIV-2 on current tests.  A
report by an University of California (Irvine) immunologist
says that he has confirmed the discovery of a virus that
appears different than the two previously diagnosed
illnesses.

According to Dr. Sudhir Gupta of the U. of C., the new virus
appears to be similar and "strongly associated" with the
other forms of HIV, but it doesn't produce the same
antibodies that mark infection with HIV-1 or HIV-2.  The new
virus has been named "Human Intracisternal Retrovirus" or
HICRV by researchers.  Worse yet, scientists indicate that
they currently have no idea how the virus is spread, nor
methods to prevent it. Dr. Gupta also warns that current
antibody tests that are used to screen the nation's blood
supply will not detect the new retrovirus.  He says that he
hopes to develop a conclusive test to find HICRV within the
next few months.

Reuters International has reported that some researchers in
France have discovered the possibility of two "different" and
additional viruses that may have the same effect as HIV, but
do not have the biological "markers" that have allowed
diagnosis and treatment of current AIDS victims.  While
French scientists admit that they don't have enough clinical
and laboratory data to draw firm conclusions regarding the
peculiarities of the "mutant viruses", they do claim that
their research indicates that there are more forms of AIDS
than HIV-1 or HIV-2.

The newly discovered viruses have been uncovered in as many
as twenty-five (25) patients in the United States.  A
confirming case involves a California woman, who suffers all
of the symptoms of the full-blown AIDS, including
Pneumocystis Carinii form of pneumonia and complete depletion
of white blood cells.  Blood tests indicate that both the
woman and her daughter have developed antibodies to HICRV,
but neither tests positive for HIV-1 or HIV-2.  According to
published reports, at least ten (10) other symptomatic
patients had blood samples which proved positive for the
HICRV test and negative for either HIV-1 or HIV-2.

A spokesman for the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, GA
says that CDC is studying the data developed by the French
and California researchers, and will continue to investigate
the matter.  Some AIDS specialists, including one Harvard
University physician, says that the discovery and reporting
the new "strain" is "vastly overinterpreted".  Dr. Max Essex
of Harvard is reported by the Associated Press as saying,
"there is no clear evidence of such a virus...and even if
there is one...it is not a primary cause of AIDS".

While researchers continue to debate the exact cause and
effect of the various viruses associated with AIDS, more than
ten (10) million infected people worldwide hope that its
deadly secret can soon be uncovered.  With thousands of
people dying from AIDS each year, researchers say the best
current promise is a hope of increasing awareness and
preventing millions of youngsters from contracting the
"Plague of the 20th Century".

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